27th January 2010

January 27, 2010

Players from Norway’s Bryne Football Club pictured last year at Desert Springs in the Almeria area of Spain where they were the first Norwegian club to benefit from the facilities of the resort’s Football Winter Training Camp.

Shunning the Nordic snow as they head south next month to enjoy the desert micro-climate of south-east Spain will be 25 of Norway’s top footballers.

A squad of 22 players and three coaches from Honefoss Football Club – which currently competes in the Tippeligaen, the top tier of Norwegian football, are following in the footsteps of the country’s pioneering second division Bryne Football Club which last year was the first to benefit from the facilities of the Football Winter Training Camp established at Desert Springs.
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During a four-night stay at the Desert Springs the Honefoss players will benefit from training and coaching on the first international-size quality grass pitch in Almeria. Since it was inaugurated by Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst in 2004, floodlights, shower and changing facilities and a referee changing room have been added.

More recently, in response to requests from visiting teams, a new hard standing area provides outside space for facilities such as a free weights gym, stretching mats and a medical area. And for the first time this year players will be able to make use of a newly-sewn dwarf rye grass area planned specifically for goal-keeper training and five-a-side games.

Simon Coaker, sales and marketing manager at Desert Springs, said that the wide range of facilities available in the resort influenced the decision by Honefoss Football Club to select Desert Springs for its training camp.

“Clearly the word is getting around in Norway’s football clubs following last year’s visit by Byrne,” said Simon. “That club’s coach, Rolf Teigen, was so enthusiastic about the caliber of the resort, its football pitch, other sports facilities, restaurants and accommodation that he pledged to spread the word to other Norwegian clubs. Rolf told me: ‘I have lots of sporting connections in Norway and when I return for the new season I will be speaking to them about Desert Springs and its first class facilities.’ Clearly he is as good as his word.”

During Football Winter Training Camps, players can make full use of the 18-hole Indiana golf course and enjoy opportunities to swim, play tennis and use the gymnasium, trim trail, jogging tracks, paddle tennis and beach volley ball courts. They also have access to the resort’s Private Reserve which incorporates a spa, private sauna and jacuzzi suite, personal fitness workout room, games room with bar, and a home cinema.

Accommodation for the players and coaches is in some of the privately-owned apartments normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs.

When Honefoss visits next month, the resort’s executive chef will be on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining in the resort’s two restaurants – the award-winning El Torrente and the Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club.